

The Edward Show
Edward Sturm
Founder and go-to-market stories from the lens of a world-class marketer.
Episodes
Mentioned books

12 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 9min
Schema Is Useless for LLMs: The SEO Lie That’s Finally Exposed
Discover why the hype around schema for AI and LLMs is unfounded. Viral experiments reveal that structured data is ignored during tokenization, making it ineffective for boosting visibility in AI search. Instead, learn actionable strategies like optimizing visible text and creating rich content that appeals to AI tools. Stop wasting resources on snake oil SEO tactics and embrace methods that genuinely drive engagement and sales in the digital landscape.

Sep 17, 2025 • 5min
SEO Isn’t Dead - It’s Just Your Rankings Collapsed
A high-profile founder claims AI is to blame for their traffic collapse, but the truth is rankings dropped significantly. The discussion debunks the myth that SEO is dead, revealing that it’s actually at peak interest. Keyword rankings directly drive clicks, and losing top positions can kill traffic. Plus, the episode highlights how anyone can fact-check their SEO performance using free tools. Discover why search remains a powerful digital marketing channel when approached correctly!

Sep 16, 2025 • 1h 6min
Local SEO in 2025: What Actually Works (w/ Joy Hawkins)
E804: Local SEO is changing fast in 2025 - AI Overviews, reviews, hours, link building, service area pages… what actually works right now? Joy Hawkins, founder of Sterling Sky and one of the leading experts in local SEO, joins the podcast! We cover: - How AI Overviews are influencing local rankings - The #1 local SEO mistake most businesses make (and how to fix it) - Reviews, recency, and why “open hours” can make or break your rankings - Multi-location SEO done right (without doorway pages) - Press releases, expired domains, and other link building tests - White-hat vs. shortcuts: what really lasts long term If you run a local business or do SEO for clients, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can put to work immediately. ⭐️ Joy’s Agency - Sterling Sky: www.sterlingsky.ca ⭐️ Joy’s YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/SterlingSkyInc ⭐️ Joy’s LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/joyhawkins/ ⭐️ Local Search Forum - http://localsearchforum.com/ 💎 Compact Keywords - My SEO Course - Get paying customers through SEO - Clear step-by-step video breakdowns - SEO templates to be copied and adapted for your products and services: https://compactkeywords.com/ 00:00 Introduction and Shared SERPs 00:07 Link Echoes and YouTube SEO 02:18 AI and SEO: Current Trends 02:57 Link Building Strategies 04:19 Internal Links 05:43 Review Recency and Google Business Profile 12:22 Press Releases in 2025 28:25 Local SEO and Multi-location Strategies 34:02 Google's Manual Penalties and Scaled Content Abuse 34:36 Service Area Pages: Hit or Miss? 35:57 Scaling SEO Efforts Proportionally 37:26 Holistic SEO: Beyond Traditional Methods 38:06 Reddit AMAs for SEO Benefits 41:48 White Hat SEO: The Long-Term Approach 42:46 Link Building Mistakes and Effective Tactics 47:17 Guest Posting for Small Businesses 54:27 Expired Domains and Redirects 01:02:54 Local SEO: Common Mistakes and Best Practices The Edward Show. Your daily search engine optimization podcast: https://edwardsturm.com/the-edward-show/ #localseo #seotips #searchengineoptimization #sweatystartup

5 snips
Sep 15, 2025 • 14min
Google’s War on Scaled AI Content: The Rise and Fall of AInvest
The podcast dives into the dramatic rise and fall of AInvest, an AI-generated financial news site that skyrocketed to fame before plummeting. It discusses Google's recent Spam Update, which heavily impacted AI content's visibility. Listeners will discover the secrets behind AInvest's initial success, the pitfalls of unregulated AI content, and essential SEO lessons for marketers. Strategies for authentic AI content creation and enhancing user experience through SEO insights are also explored, making it a must-listen for digital marketing enthusiasts.

16 snips
Sep 14, 2025 • 1h 29min
Entity SEO, Parasite Hacks & Google Patches - with Jesper Nissen
Jesper Nissen, an SEO expert and founder of SchemaWriter, shares his insights on Entity SEO and parasite hacks. He breaks down how entities can improve search visibility and explains important 'ranking zones' like URL and H1 tags. Nissen discusses the implications of recent Google updates, the pros and cons of paid indexing, and how to ethically navigate SEO. He also reveals techniques for local SEO success using social media and offers innovative strategies for effective backlink building. Tune in for practical tips and tricks!

Sep 13, 2025 • 8min
Massive Parasite SEO Attack on .Gov & .Edu Sites (Duke, Michigan, California)
A shocking Parasite SEO attack is exploiting .gov and .edu websites, including Duke and Michigan. Attackers hijack high-authority domains to rank for illicit keywords, resulting in staggering traffic spikes—over 20 million visits in just 24 hours! Discover how vulnerable CMS systems are targeted and why these domains make prime candidates. The discussion also includes preventive measures for protecting high-authority sites from these alarming breaches.

5 snips
Sep 12, 2025 • 1h 36min
AI Sites Get Smacked: Google’s August Spam Update, AInvest’s Crash & How to Actually Win SEO
Gagan Ghotra, an SEO expert known for his insights on Google Discover and e-commerce strategies, shares valuable tips on navigating the changing SEO landscape. The discussion delves into the implications of Google’s August Spam Update, revealing how it impacts AI-driven content and the importance of topical focus. Gagan also emphasizes the power of user-generated content and practical strategies for optimizing images and merchant feeds. Learn why niching down can outperform broad approaches, along with how to effectively engage with Google Discover.

4 snips
Sep 11, 2025 • 7min
Google Admits: The Open Web Is in Rapid Decline (What It Means for SEO)
Google has acknowledged the rapid decline of the open web, creating a stir in the digital marketing world. This shift challenges traditional SEO and link-building strategies. Fewer independent blogs mean evolving backlinks may become crucial again. New authority signals are emerging, and savvy SEOs could benefit from these changes. The discussion also focuses on practical strategies to adapt to this new landscape, making it essential for marketers, SEOs, and business owners to stay ahead of the curve.

13 snips
Sep 10, 2025 • 55min
AI SEO vs “Normal” SEO: Winning LLMs with Brand-First Strategy - Steve Toth
In this insightful discussion, Steve Toth, an SEO expert and founder of SEO Notebook, reveals how a brand-first strategy can revolutionize AI SEO. He emphasizes how optimizing for brand keywords is crucial for visibility on platforms like ChatGPT. Toth introduces the Truth Alignment Framework, shares hacks for crafting compelling press releases, and highlights innovative tactics like compact keywords for better conversions. With practical tips on enhancing brand presence for AI interpretation, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone serious about mastering modern SEO.

Sep 9, 2025 • 12min
Do Domains & TLDs Really Matter for SEO? Google Finally Answers
How much do domain names and TLDs really affect SEO? Insights from Google’s John Mueller shed light on the impact of different TLDs, revealing why some may be considered spammy. The discussion also tackles whether hyphenated domains outshine exotic options. Plus, learn when it's sensible to change your domain and how to do so effectively. For anyone serious about SEO, this conversation offers smart strategies to choose the right domain and avoid common pitfalls.